The Xbox Series will soon welcome 4 superb games to watch very, very closely. As a bonus, there’s an Xbox Game Pass release.
Do you know the ID@Xbox? It is a program launched by Microsoft to help independent studios in many areas. The objective is to support modest studios so that they can bring their ideas to life.
Behind this logo, Microsoft often gives huge figures, talking about more than a hundred developers and even thousands of games having had the opportunity to enter the program, or which are still in production. Little nuggets which then appear on Xbox Series and PC, and even sometimes on other media.
Not long ago, well out of sight, we had the opportunity to (re)discover 4 indie games which will soon be available. Little poetic treasures for some, intense adventures for others, there was something for everyone overall. In any case, they seem quite promising and should definitely find an audience. As a bonus, we were treated to excellent news for most of them.
Nightscape, a poetic platformer with an atypical artistic direction
We start slowly with Nightscape, a small puzzle platform game developed by Mezan Studios. We will follow young Layla, who seeks to unravel the mystery of the Stars in a world inspired by Arab myths. To carry out her quest, she will be able to count on her new companion, a little astral goat endowed with cosmic powers, but also on the power of the stars which will give her strength and courage. Like many indie games of this caliber, Nightscape opts for a unique artistic direction, covered in shimmering colors, almost pastel in places.
All cradled by a discreet and gentle OST. Semi-contemplative, Nightscape will still offer combat phases where we will have to defeat our adversaries using a bow in particular, but other skills are expected. We don’t yet know everything about the game except that the stars will be the center of all attention. A poetic and cosmic tale that should please fans of the genre. Nightscape is expected on Xbox Series and PC, but also on PS5. No release date yet, but it should happen soon.
Botany Manor, for the love of plants and puzzles
Do you like nature and worry about it? Ballon Studios has what you need. Botany Manor is an extremely chill game: no music, a natural and relaxing soundscape, a refined and colorful artistic direction that is a bit reminiscent of The Witness… the whole package. The game asks you to explore a vast mansion set in the middle of a natural setting. Your objective will be to cultivate plants there, like a good experienced botanist. Bad luck, you don’t know anything about it. This is where the puzzle component of the game comes into play. You will have to “investigate” and explore the gardens to discover different clues allowing you to improve your botanical knowledge.
Type of plant, how to cultivate them, chemical composition of the best fertilizer… all the codes are there and will have to be discovered one by one to successfully complete your plantings. The investigation phases are based on exploration (to find objects) and a lot of reflection. Not only will it be necessary to read a few botanical textbooks here and there, but also to experiment a little while keeping your eyes open. Botany Manor is coming to us on April 9 on PC, via Steam, but also on Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch. A demo is also already available on Steam if you want to experience the game for free before its release in a few days.
Jump Ship, in space everyone will hear you play on Xbox Series
We’re leaving earth for space this time with Jump Ship, a cooperative action game that mixes looter shooter and survival. Alone or in a group of up to 4 players, you will have to form a crew and take care of a spaceship while exploring large areas. Dozens of planets will open up to you and you will have to extract the maximum amount of resources from them before being crushed by the local militia, or opposing pirates managed by the AI. No PvP planned for the moment, Jump Ship is focusing on cooperation. The environments are announced to be particularly numerous and the game promises to be relatively varied. Not only will we be able (even should) to explore on foot in a first-person view, but we will also be able to walk around aboard our ship.
Each player will then have a position to hold, from piloting to shooting positions for defense. The space battles already promise to be grandiose and should offer their share of laughs in the process. On the ground, it’s dynamism that takes precedence. The enemies quickly increase in number and they come from all sides. The developers also promise us a lot of customization, whether in terms of equipment for our characters or for the ship, which we will have to pamper and improve thanks to what we find here and there. A whole space program that we can’t wait to test with a group of trigger-happy friends. Unfortunately, Jump Ship does not yet have a release date but its Early Access should start soon on Steam. For now, the game is expected on PC and Xbox Series only.
Still Wakes the Deep, a big release coming to Xbox Game Pass
Back on land this time, or rather at sea with the big part of this presentation of the next ID@Xbox games with Still Wakes the Deep. If the name rings a bell, it’s not for nothing since the game has already been presented and it caused a sensation. This survival horror has, on paper, almost everything to please. Still Wakes the Deep is developed by storytelling experts The Chinese Room, who have worked on Dear Esther, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture or Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. But it is also its synopsis which was intriguing. The game will take place on board an oil station in the 1970s off the coast of Scotland, a rather atypical place and period. Quickly, things will get out of hand and the entire platform will descend into total chaos, attacked by something, an entity or a monster, no one knows exactly. The crew will be decimated, while the installation will be threatened. It will therefore be up to us to save all these beautiful people while trying to survive at the same time.
Something easier said than done since if the threat is real, we will have absolutely no weapons. The developers reconfirmed it to us during this closed-door presentation, Still Wakes the Deep is a psychological horror game that will use your brain more than your arms. So expect to run away and solve puzzles under pressure. In any case, the game promises to be particularly gripping. The atmosphere seems to be there and we immediately recognize the touch of the studio which knows how to lead the dance and impose tension at all times. Unfortunately once again, this head-to-head with this promising game was brief, but we shouldn’t have to wait much longer to be able to test the beast further. Still Wakes the Deep is in fact expected for June 18 on PC and Xbox Series only (for now). Cherry on the cake, the game will arrive on day one in Xbox Game Pass.